Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Document Ref: SX042a-EN-EU Sheet 1 of 5

CALCULATION SHEET
Title Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Eurocode Ref EN 1991-1-2:2002

Made by Z Sokol Date Jan 2006
Checked by F Wald Date Jan 2006

Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire

compartment
This example shows the determination of the parametric fire curve for a fire
compartment in an office building, according to Annex A of EN 1991-1-2.
The walls and the floors above and below the compartment are of
reinforced concrete; the walls have several openings. Reference is made to
SD006 for the thermal properties of the walls and floors.

Basic data
Dimensions of the fire compartment
width: a = 8,5 m
length: b = 10,0 m
height: h = 3,15 m
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height of opening hop = 1,537 m

width of opening bop = 3,85 m
number of openings n = 4; see Figure 1.

a = 8,5 m
b = 10,0 m h = 3,15 m

hop = 1,537 m

bop = 3,85 m

Figure 1: Considered fire compartment

The floor and ceiling are made from reinforced concrete

density ρ = 2300 kg m-3 SD006
specific heat c = 840 J kg-1 K-1
thermal conductivity λ = 1,57 W m-1 K-1
The walls are made from lightweight concrete
density ρ = 500 kg m-3 SD006
Created on Sunday, July 18, 2010

specific heat c = 840 J kg-1 K-1

thermal conductivity λ = 0,22 W m-1 K-1
Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Document Ref: SX042a-EN-EU Sheet 2 of 5

CALCULATION SHEET
Title Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Eurocode Ref EN 1991-1-2:2002

Made by Z Sokol Date Jan 2006
Checked by F Wald Date Jan 2006

Fire load density

For office buildings, the characteristic fire load density related to floor area, EN 1991-1-2
for the 80% fractile case (Gumbel distribution) is given by Table E.4 as: Annex E
Table E.4
qf,k = 511 MJ m-2

The floor area is

Af = a b = 8,5 ⋅ 10,0 = 85 m 2

The factor to take into account the fire activation risk due to the size of the EN 1991-1-2
compartment is given by linear interpolation from Table E.1: Annex E
Table E.1
δ q1 = 1,1 + (1,5 + 1,1) ⋅ (85 − 25) / (250 − 25) = 1,20

For the factor to take into account the fire activation risk due to the type of
occupancy δq2 =1,00.
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The factor to take into account the different fire fighting measures δn = 1,00
The design fire load density is given by:
qf,d = qf,kδq1δq2δn
= 511·1,20·1,00·1,00 = 613 MJ m−2

Thermal properties of the fire compartment

The total area of the enclosure is:

At = 2 Af + 2 (a + b ) h = 2 ⋅ 85 + 2 ⋅ (8,5 + 10,0) ⋅ 3,15 = 286,55 m 2

The total area of vertical openings is:

Av = n hop bop = 4 ⋅ 1,537 ⋅ 3,85 = 23,67 m 2

The surface factor for floor and ceiling is: EN 1991-1-2

Annex A
b = ρ c λ = 2 300 ⋅ 840 ⋅ 1,57 = 1742 J m -2s -0,5K −1

The surface factor for walls is:

b = ρ c λ = 500 ⋅ 840 ⋅ 0,22 = 304 J m -2s -0,5K −1
Created on Sunday, July 18, 2010

Both values are within the limit 100 ≤ b ≤ 2200.

Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Document Ref: SX042a-EN-EU Sheet 3 of 5

CALCULATION SHEET
Title Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Eurocode Ref EN 1991-1-2:2002

Made by Z Sokol Date Jan 2006
Checked by F Wald Date Jan 2006

The resulting surface factor is

b= ∑ (b A ) =
i i

At − Av
2 ⋅ 85 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 1742 + (2 ⋅ (8,5 + 10,0 ) ⋅ 3,15 − 23,67 ) ⋅ 304
= = 1234 J m - 2s - 0,5 K −1
286,55 − 23,67

Ventilation properties of the fire compartment

The opening factor is:
Av ⋅ heq 23,67 ⋅ 1,537
O= = = 0,1024 m 0,5
At 286,55
where the weighted average height of the openings heq = 1,537 m.
EN 1991-1-2
The opening factor should be within the limits 0,02≤ O ≤0,2 [m0,5]. The
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Annex A(3)
limitation is satisfied.

Time factor function

The Γ factor is given by:
2 2
⎛O⎞ ⎛ 0 ,1024 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ b⎠ ⎝ 1234 ⎠
Γ = 2
= 2
= 5,791
⎛ 0 ,04 ⎞ ⎛ 0,04 ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 1160 ⎠ ⎝ 1160 ⎠

Fire load density related to surface area

The design fire load density related to the surface area is given by:
qf,d Af 613 ⋅ 85
qt,d = = = 181,8 MJ m − 2
At 286,55
Created on Sunday, July 18, 2010
Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Document Ref: SX042a-EN-EU Sheet 4 of 5

CALCULATION SHEET
Title Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Eurocode Ref EN 1991-1-2:2002

Made by Z Sokol Date Jan 2006
Agreement

Checked by F Wald Date Jan 2006

Evaluation of the limiting time and maximum temperature

Medium fire growth rate is expected, with tlim = 20 min = 0,333 hour.
Licence

The time tmax to reach the maximum temperature is given by:

Steel

⎧ 0,2 ⋅ 10−3 qt,d ⎫ ⎧ 0,2 ⋅ 10−3 ⋅ 181,8 ⎫

⎪⎪ ⎪⎪ ⎪ ⎪
O ⎪ 0 ,1024 ⎪
= max ⎨ ⎬ = max ⎨ ⎬ = 0,355 hour
Access

tmax
⎪ tlim ⎪ ⎪ 0,333 ⎪
⎪⎩ ⎪⎭ ⎪⎩ ⎪⎭
the

The fire is ventilation-controlled. because tmax is given by the first term.

of

The time to reach maximum temperature, taking account of the openings and
conditions

*
thermal absorptivity, t max is given by:
*
tmax = tmax Γ = 0,355 ⋅ 5,791 = 2,056 hour
and

and the maximum gas temperature is given by:

terms

(
θ max = 20 + 1325 1 − 0,324 e −0, 2⋅2,056 − 0,204 e −1,7⋅2,056 − 0,472 e −19⋅2,056 = )
the

= 1052°C
to

The curve in the heating phase

subject

The gas temperature in the heating phase is given by

is

θ g,t = 20 + 1325 ⎛⎜1 − 0,324 e −0, 2 t − 0,204 e −1,7 t − 0,472 e −19 t ⎞⎟

* * *

⎝ ⎠
document

*
where the time t is given by:
t * = t Γ = 5,791 t
this
of

The curve in the cooling phase

Use

For t*max > 2 hours, the gas temperature in the cooling phase is given by:
reserved.

(
θ g, t = θ max − 250 t * − tmax
*
x = )
= 1052 − 250 ⋅ (t )
rights

*
− 2,056 ⋅ 1 =
2010

= 1566 − 250 ⋅ t *
all
18,

where the factor x = 1 for a ventilation-controlled fire.

- copyright
July

The resulting parametric curve is shown in Figure 2.

Sunday,
material is
Created on
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E x a m p l e : P a r a m e t r

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Document Ref: SX042a-EN-EU Sheet 5 of 5
CALCULATION SHEET
y
i

Title Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

l

Eurocode Ref EN 1991-1-2:2002

r

Made by Z Sokol Date Jan 2006

u

Checked by F Wald Date Jan 2006

y

1100 θ [°C]
J
p

1000
900
o

800
,

700 θ g,t
c

600
y

500
400
a
s

300
d

200
i

100
n

0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 120 t [min]
Figure 2: Gas temperature-time curve
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S
a i
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Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

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RESOURCE TITLE Example: Parametric fire curve for a fire compartment

Reference(s)

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

Name Company Date

Created by Z. Sokol CTU Prague 07/06/2006

Technical content checked by F. Wald CTU Prague 07/06/2006

Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:

1. UK G W Owens SCI 31/5/06

2. France A Bureau CTICM 31/5/06

3. Sweden B Uppfeldt SBI 31/5/06

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 31/5/06

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement

5. Spain J Chica Labein 31/5/06

6. Luxembourg M Haller PARE 31/5/06

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 12/9/06

Coordinator
Created on Sunday, July 18, 2010

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